India to visit Sri Lanka in March next year for tri-series involving Bangladesh

India will play a T20I tri-series in Sri Lanka, also involving Bangladesh in March 2018 to commemorate Sri Lanka’s 70th independence day, Sri Lanka cricket president Thilanga Sumathipala has announced today. The tournament has been named as 'Nidhas' Trophy.

'Nidhas’ is a Sanskrit word which means independence. The tournament, which is set to happen between March 15 to 31, 2018, is said to consist of six round games, where the three teams will play each other twice and the top two teams will face off in the final.

While speaking to journalists at the P. Sara Oval on Wednesday, Sumathipala said, "We celebrate the 70th year of our independence next year and SLC also completes 70 years in 2018. We are happy that both BCCI and BCB have confirmed their participation for the tri-nation series."

He also added that the idea was first suggested by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinhe to Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to send the Indian team to Colombo as part of the country's independence celebrations and then the matter had been discussed at board levels.

Sumathipala is also keen to invite the Indian and the Bangladeshi Prime Ministers to attend the finals of the event. "We are keen to invite the Indian and Bangladesh Prime Minister as well for the finals of this event."

The SLC chief was accompanied by BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and BCB President Nazmul Hasan.

Earlier, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka had also conducted cricket tournaments to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their independence in 1997 and 1998. Johri reminisced this by saying, "SLC President said that how the Sri Lankan team won the Indian independence Cup in 1997 and we are waiting to return the favor."

But first, the Indian team will be in Sri Lanka in July this year, as well. And are scheduled to play three Tests, five ODI's and two T20's.

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